Abstract:

A method may include and/or involve a mote network receiving a signal to
reset and applying the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition.

Claims:

1. A method comprising:a mote network receiving a signal to reset and
applying the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset
condition; andpropagating a reset signal through at least a portion of
the mote network to reset one or more subsets of motes within the portion
of the mote network to one or more operational states in accordance with
one or more types of sensors comprised by the one or more subsets of
motes.

2-5. (canceled)

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to reset and applying
the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition
further comprises:signaling the mote network with state information
stored external to the mote network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to reset and applying
the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition
further comprises:signaling the mote network to apply state information
stored by the one or more motes of the mote network.

8-11. (canceled)

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to reset and
applying the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset
condition further comprises:at least one mote of the mote network
authenticating a source of the signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one mote of the mote network
authenticating a source of the signal further comprises:at least one mote
of the mote network extracting authentication information from the signal
and applying the authentication information to authenticate the source of
the signal.

14-21. (canceled)

22. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to reset and
applying the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset
condition further comprises:signaling a mote network with the result that
at least one mote removes itself from the mote network.

23-57. (canceled)

58. A mote network comprising:logic to receive a signal to reset and to
apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset
condition; andlogic to propagate a reset signal through at least a
portion of the mote network to reset one or more subsets of motes within
the portion of the mote network to one or more operational states in
accordance with one or more types of sensors comprised by the one or more
subsets of motes.

59-61. (canceled)

62. The mote network of claim 58, further comprising:logic to reset the
mote network to a previous operational state as a result of at least one
of addition, removal, failure, or reconfiguration of one or more motes of
the mote network.

63. (canceled)

64. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to assign at least one mote a
status such that signals from the at least one mote are ignored and/or
treated as unsuitable.

65. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to cause a first set of motes to
each have a first state, and to cause a second set of motes to each have
a second state.

66. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to cause all functional motes of
the mote network to return to a same state.

67. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to reset different sets of motes
sequentially to a previous operational state.

68. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to propagate the signal to reset
through the mote network.

69. The mote network of claim 58, wherein the logic to receive a signal to
reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into a
reset condition further comprises:logic to signal the mote network to
reset when data collected from the mote network indicates the presence of
one or more environmental factors associated with a reset condition.

70. A first method, comprising:performing at least one of a reception of
or a transmission of one or more instructions in relation to a second
method that includes at least:a mote network receiving a signal to reset
and applying the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset
condition; andpropagating a reset signal through the mote network t reset
one or more subsets of motes within the network to one or more
operational states in accordance with one or more types of sensors
comprised by the one or more subsets of motes.

71. The first method of claim 70, wherein the second method further
comprises:one or more motes of the mote network creating a network
restore point as a result of receiving the signal, wherein the network
restore point saved as a result of receiving the signal further comprises
operational state information of the mote network that is different from
state information of an initial operational state of the mote network.

72. The first method of claim 70, wherein the second method further
comprises:signaling the mote network with the result that the network is
reset to a previous operational state as a result of completion of a task
by the mote network.

73. The first method of claim 70, wherein the second method that includes
at least . . . receiving a signal to reset and applying the signal to
reset to place the mote network into a reset condition further
comprises:signaling the mote network when data collected from the mote
network indicates the presence of one or more environmental factors
associated with a reset condition.

74. The first method of claim 70, further comprising:receiving a user
authorization for the performing the at least one of the reception of or
the transmission of the one or more instructions in relation to the
second method.

75. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:receiving the one or more
instructions; andreplacing a portion of a representation of the second
method in response to the one or more instructions.

76. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:receiving the one or more
instructions; andpatching a representation of the second method in
response to the one or more instructions.

77. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:receiving the one or more
instructions; andforming a representation of the second method in
response to the one or more instructions.

78. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:transmitting at least one indicator
representative of the second method.

79. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:transmitting at least one
instruction representative of a patch generated in response to a
representation of the second method.

80. The first method of claim 70, wherein the performing of at least one
of a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in
relation to a second method comprises:transmitting at least one
instruction representative of an upgrade generated in response to a
representation of the second method.

81. A first system, comprising:means for performing a reception of or a
transmission of one or more instructions in relation to a second system
that includes at least one mote having:logic to receive a signal to reset
and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote into a reset
condition, wherein the logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply
the signal to reset to place the mote into a reset condition further
comprises:logic to propagate a reset signal through the mote network to
reset subsets of motes within the network to different operational states
in accordance with the type of sensor comprised by the subsets of motes.

82. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote having logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply
the signal to reset to place the mote into a reset condition further
comprises:at least one mote having logic to return the mote to or near to
an identified saved state.

83. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote having logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply
the signal to reset to place the mote into a reset condition further
comprises:at least one mote having logic to apply state information
stored by the one or more other motes of the mote network.

84. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote further comprises:at least one mote having logic to
communicate stored information before returning to a previous mote
operational state as a result of receiving the signal to reset.

85. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote further comprises:at least one mote having logic to
receive and apply information about a time at which to perform a reset.

86. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote further comprises:at least one mote having logic to
receive and apply a synchronization signal prior to receiving and
applying the signal to reset.

87. The first system of claim 81, wherein the second system that includes
at least one mote further comprises:at least one mote having logic to
signal success or failure of applying the signal to reset.

88. A method of making a system comprising:operably coupling at least two
parts of a mote network, wherein operably coupling at least two parts of
a mote network includes but is not limited to:operably coupling at least
one mote having logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply the
signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition;
andoperably coupling at least one mote having logic to propagate a reset
signal through the mote network to reset one or more subsets of motes
within the network to one or more operational states in accordance with
one or more types of sensors comprised by the one or more subsets of
motes.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least two parts
of a mote network further comprises:operably coupling at least one mote
having logic to store a network restore point in a distributed fashion
among motes of the mote network.

90. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least two parts
of a mote network further comprises:operably coupling at least one mote
having logic to reset the mote network to a previous operational state as
a result of completion of a task by the mote network.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least two parts
of a mote network further comprises:operably coupling at least one mote
having logic to reset the mote network to a previous operational state as
a result of damage to the mote network.

92. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least one mote
having logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply the signal to
reset to place the mote network into a reset condition further
comprises:operably coupling at least one mote having logic to cause one
or more motes of the mote network to remove itself from the mote network.

93. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least one mote
having logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply the signal to
reset to place the mote network into a reset condition further
comprises:logic to assign at least one mote a status such that signals
from the at least one mote are ignored and/or treated as unsuitable.

94. The method of claim 88, wherein operably coupling at least two parts
of a mote network comprises:communicating with at least one part of a
mote network via a signal bearing medium.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:transmitting onto
a signal bearing medium.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:receiving from a
signal bearing medium.

97. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:communicating via
at least one of a digital communication link or an analog communication
link.

98. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:communicating via
a client-server communication link.

99. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:communicating via
a peer-to-peer communication link.

100. The method of claim 94, wherein communicating with at least one part
of a mote network via a signal bearing medium comprises:communicating via
a mobile-base station communication link.

Description:

[0002]Mote networks may be prone to localized and systemic failures due to
non-robustness of the motes and/or the harshness of the environment into
which they are deployed.

[0003]Noise, communication failures, sensor failures, malfunctions, and
other conditions may cause a mote network to have an unstable state.

SUMMARY

[0004]The following summary is intended to highlight and introduce some
aspects of the disclosed embodiments, but not to limit the scope of the
claims. Thereafter, a detailed description of illustrated embodiments is
presented, which will permit one skilled in the relevant art to make and
use various embodiments.

[0005]A method may include and/or involve a mote network receiving a
signal to reset and applying the signal to reset to place the mote
network into a reset condition. Receiving a signal to reset and applying
the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition may
include and/or involve returning one or more motes individually to or
near to an identified saved state, and/or returning one or more motes
individually to or near to a state saved at a particular time, and/or
returning the mote network to or near to an identified saved state,
and/or returning the mote network to or near to a state saved at a
particular time, and/or signaling the mote network with state information
stored external to the mote network, and/or signaling the mote network to
apply state information stored by the one or more motes of the mote
network, and/or returning at least one mote of the mote network to a
manufactured default state, and/or performing a reset and restart of at
least one mote of the mote network, and/or erasing stored data of at
least one mote of the mote network, and/or at least one mote of the mote
network authenticating a source of the signal, and/or signaling with
light, and/or signaling with sound, and/or signaling a mote network with
the result that at least one mote removes itself from the mote network,
and/or signaling a mote network with the result that at least one mote is
assigned a status such that signals from the at least one mote are
ignored and/or treated as unsuitable, and/or retaining one or more first
types of state information on a mote-by-mote basis, and removing one or
more second types of state information on a mote-by-mote basis, and/or
causing all functional motes of the mote network to return to a same
state, and/or causing one or more motes to enter into an energy saving
state, and/or different sets of motes sequentially resetting to a
previous mote operational state, and/or resetting at least one of mote
clock, mote sensor, mote knowledge of neighbors, or mote knowledge of
environmental factors, and/or a reset signal propagating through the mote
network, and/or signaling the mote network when data collected from the
mote network indicates the presence of one or more environmental factors
associated with a reset condition. Signaling the mote network to apply
state information stored by the one or more motes of the mote network may
include and/or involve signaling one or more motes to obtain reset state
information from one or more other motes. At least one mote of the mote
network authenticating a source of the signal may include and/or involve
at least one mote of the mote network extracting authentication
information from the signal and applying the authentication information
to authenticate the source of the signal.

[0006]The method may include and/or involve one or more motes of the mote
network creating a network restore point as a result of receiving the
signal.

[0007]The method may include and/or involve the one or more motes of the
mote network providing distributed storage for information of the network
restore point.

[0008]The method may include and/or involve storing information of the
network restore point external to the mote network.

[0009]The method may include and/or involve signaling the mote network
with the result that the network is reset to a previous operational state
as a result of completion of a task by the mote network.

[0010]The method may include and/or involve signaling the mote network
with the result that the network is reset to a previous operational state
as a result of damage to the mote network.

[0011]The method may include and/or involve signaling the mote network
with the result that the network is reset to a previous operational state
as a result of at least one of addition, removal, failure, or
reconfiguration of one or more motes of the mote network.

[0012]The method may include and/or involve at least one mote of the mote
network communicating stored information before returning to a previous
mote operational state.

[0013]The method may include and/or involve signaling the mote network
with information about a common time at which to perform a reset.

[0014]The method may include and/or involve signaling the mote network
with a synchronization signal prior to a reset signal.

[0015]The method may include and/or involve one or more motes of the
network signaling success or failure of applying the signal to reset.

[0016]A mote system utilizing at least one mote, where the mote may
include and/or involve logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply
the signal to reset to place the mote into a reset condition. The logic
to receive a signal to reset and to apply the signal to reset to place
the mote into a reset condition may include and/or involve logic to
return the mote to or near to an identified saved state, and/or logic to
return the mote to or near to a state saved at a particular time, and/or
logic to return the mote to or near to an identified saved state, and/or
logic to return the mote to or near to a state saved at a particular
time, and/or logic to apply state information stored external to the mote
network, and/or logic to apply state information stored by the one or
more other motes of the mote network, and/or logic to return the mote to
a manufactured default state, and/or logic to reset and restart the mote,
and/or logic to erase data stored by the mote, and/or logic to
authenticate a source of the signal to reset, and/or logic to receive a
light signal to reset, and/or logic to receive a sound signal to reset,
and/or logic to enter into an energy saving state as a result of
receiving the signal to reset, and/or logic to reset at least one of mote
clock, mote sensor, mote knowledge of neighbors, or mote knowledge of
environmental factors as a result of receiving the signal to reset. The
logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply the signal to reset to
place the mote into a reset condition may include and/or involve logic to
receive state information from one or more other motes. The logic to
authenticate a source of the signal to reset may include and/or involve
logic to extract authentication information from the signal and apply the
authentication information to authenticate the source of the signal to
reset.

[0017]The mote may include and/or involve logic to store a restore point
and to apply the restore point as a result of receiving the signal to
reset.

[0018]The mote may include and/or involve logic to receive and apply
network restore point information.

[0019]The mote may include and/or involve logic to communicate stored
information before returning to a previous mote operational state as a
result of receiving the signal to reset.

[0020]The mote may include and/or involve logic to receive and apply
information about a time at which to perform a reset.

[0021]The mote may include and/or involve logic to receive and apply a
synchronization signal prior to receiving and applying the signal to
reset.

[0022]The mote may include and/or involve logic to signal success or
failure of applying the signal to reset.

[0023]A mote network may include and/or involve logic to receive a signal
to reset and to apply the signal to reset to place the mote network into
a reset condition. The logic to receive a signal to reset and to apply
the signal to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition may
include and/or involve logic to cause one or more motes of the mote
network to remove itself from the mote network, and/or logic to assign at
least one mote a status such that signals from the at least one mote are
ignored and/or treated as unsuitable, and/or logic to cause a first set
of motes to each have a first state, and to cause a second set of motes
to each have a second state, and/or logic to cause all functional motes
of the mote network to return to a same state, and/or logic to reset
different sets of motes sequentially to a previous operational state,
and/or logic to propagate the signal to reset through the mote network,
and/or logic to signal the mote network to reset when data collected from
the mote network indicates the presence of one or more environmental
factors associated with a reset condition.

[0024]The mote network may include and/or involve logic to store a network
restore point in a distributed fashion among motes of the mote network.

[0025]The mote network may include and/or involve logic to reset the mote
network to a previous operational state as a result of completion of a
task by the mote network.

[0026]The mote network may include and/or involve logic to reset the mote
network to a previous operational state as a result of damage to the mote
network.

[0027]The mote network may include and/or involve logic to reset the mote
network to a previous operational state as a result of at least one of
addition, removal, failure, or reconfiguration of one or more motes of
the mote network.

[0028]Other system/method/apparatus aspects are described in the text
(e.g., detailed description and claims) and drawings forming the present
application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identify
elements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease of
understanding and convenience. To easily identify the discussion of any
particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a
reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is
first introduced.

[0030]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system including a
mote network.

[0031]FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of a process of
resetting a mote network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032]References to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not necessarily
refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

[0033]Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the
description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the
like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive
or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not
limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the
plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein,"
"above," "below" and words of similar import, when used in this
application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any
particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word
"or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of
the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list,
all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the
list.

[0034]"Logic" refers to signals and/or information that may be applied to
influence the operation of a device. Software, hardware, and firmware are
examples of logic. Hardware logic may be embodied in circuits. In
general, logic may comprise combinations of software, hardware, and/or
firmware.

[0035]System Including a Mote Network

[0036]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system including a
mote network. In order to simplify the description, the network shown
includes three mote sensors 102-104, although a mote network may include
more or fewer (typically more) mote sensors in practice.

[0037]Elements of a mote sensor 103 are shown. Other mote sensors may
comprise similar elements.

[0038]Mote sensor 103 comprises logic 108. The logic 108 (which may
include memory) may be applied to cause the mote sensor to facilitate
acts described herein.

[0039]Mote sensor 103 further comprises a communication interface 106. The
mote 103 may employ this interface to communicate with other motes and/or
devices external to the mote network. Communication may be accomplished
wirelessly via radio frequency, using light, using sound, or by other
mechanisms known in the art.

[0040]Device 111 is an example of an external device that may interact
with the mote network. The device 111 may be a personal/laptop/desktop
computer, handheld computing device, wireless device such as digital
assistant or phone, or industrial or test equipment, to name just some of
the possibilities. The external device 111 includes logic 113 to
facilitate acts described herein.

[0041]Mote sensor 103 further comprises a clock 109 and a sensor 117. The
sensor 117 may sense light/sound. Not all embodiments will include these
features, but they may be present in others.

[0042]Network Reset

[0043]The mote network may be prone to localized and systemic failures due
to non-robustness of the motes and/or the harshness of the environment
into which they are deployed. Noise, communication failures, sensor
failures, malfunctions, and other conditions may cause a mote network to
have an unstable state. The mote network may support application of a
reset signal in order to facilitate reliable and continued operation
under such circumstances.

[0044]It may also be desired to reset a mote network during the course of
its normal operation, either periodically or triggered by some event or
condition. For example, a mote network used to capture data for
scientific experiments might be reset at the start of each experiment.

[0045]The mote network may receive a signal to reset, and apply the signal
to reset to place the mote network into a reset condition. The reset
signal may be generated externally from the network (e.g. by an external
device 111). The reset signal may be generated internally by the network
itself (e.g. by one or more motes of the network). For example, motes
102-104 may communicate sensor data by passing the data from nearest
neighbor to nearest neighbor. Mote 102 passes its sensor data to mote
103, mote 103 passes data for itself and mote 102 to mote 104, and mote
104 communicates sensor data for itself and motes 102 and 103 to an
external device such as device 111. If a mote 103 stops working, data for
itself and other motes 102 that it passes on may be lost. A reset
condition may be initiated if either of still-working motes 102-104 or
the external device 111 recognize that too much data is being lost. After
a reset, each still-working mote may pass data to a currently working
nearest mote, in this case, mote 102 would pass its data to mote 104.

[0046]Receiving a signal to reset and applying the signal to reset to
place the mote network into a reset condition (henceforth, "reset signal
application") may include and/or involve returning one or more motes
individually to or near to an identified saved state. This may include
and/or involve returning one or more motes individually to or near to a
state saved at a particular time, and/or returning the mote network to or
near to an identified saved state, and/or returning the mote network (vs.
particular motes) to or near to a state saved at a particular time. For
example, motes 102-104 may contain sensors 117 with parameter values that
vary with ambient conditions. After a reset, all sensors 117 may
initially operate using their initial parameter settings.

[0047]In some implementations, reset signal application may also or
alternatively include and/or involve signaling the mote network with
state information stored external to the mote network.

[0048]Reset signal application may in some cases involve signaling the
mote network to apply state information stored by the one or more motes
of the mote network. Thus, state information applied to effect the reset
condition may come from within the network or from outside the network.

[0049]Reset signal application may involve signaling with light. For
example, motes may be applied to a volume such as a crawl space or
tunnel. Motes 102-104 distributed within the volume may reset each time a
light pulse is sensed. Reset signal application may also or alternatively
include and/or involve signaling with sound. For example, the at least
one application described above may alternatively use sound to trigger
reset and measure.

[0050]Reset signal application may also or alternatively include and/or
involve different sets of motes sequentially resetting to a previous mote
operational state. In other words, a reset signal may propagate through
the network. In other situations, all motes of the network may reset at
approximately the same time, due to reset synchronization or, for
example, because the signal to reset is provided from an external device
to all motes at approximately a same time.

[0051]Returning to the known operational state (henceforth, "reset"), may
include and/or involve returning at least one mote of the mote network to
a manufactured default state, and/or performing a reset and restart of at
least one mote of the mote network (e.g. asserting a reset signal to a
processor of a mote sensor). For example, a hung personal computer may be
rebooted with the result that it performs self-test functions then
restarts, so that either a problem is detected or the computer is
responsive and in a known initial state. Similarly, a mote restart may
include a self-test followed by restart to a known condition in terms of
communicating with its neighbors, sensing, etc.

[0052]Reset may also involve erasing stored data of at least one mote of
the mote network (e.g. purging memory contents of a mote sensor). Reset
may include and/or involve resetting at least one of mote clock, mote
sensor, mote knowledge of neighbors, or mote knowledge of environmental
factors, among other things.

[0053]Due to the possibly "destructive" nature of reset and the
possibility of data loss, one or more motes of the network may
participate in authentication and/or authorization of a reset. In some
situations, this may involve at least one mote of the mote network
authenticating a source of the reset signal, for example by extracting
and verifying authentication and/or authorization information such as
keys, passwords, privileges, and so on from the reset signal. In some
situations, at least one mote of the mote network may communicate stored
information before returning to a previous mote operational state, thus
preserving stored information before it is destroyed by the reset. For
example, in any mote network where the reset signal might occur
improperly or accidentally (say if a person mistakenly presses a button
on the device generating the signal, or because of ambient noise), an
authentication and or authorization protocol may be used before or at the
time of reset to assure reset is deliberate. For example, if motes
102-104 are measuring light, temperature, and moisture in a forest,
and/or a reset sound is sensed, mote 103 may use its communication
interface 106 to obtain authentication information and/or a reset
password prior to the motes 102-104 sending stored sensor data to the
external device 111 before resetting.

[0054]It may be advantageous, in certain implementations, for the reset
signal to result in at least one mote "removing" itself from the mote
network. The removed mote may cease to respond to communications and/or
may cease to procure and/or provide readings. In some situations, at
least one mote may be assigned a status such that signals from the at
least one mote are ignored and/or treated as unsuitable. Such a status
may be assigned by the mote itself, by the mote network (e.g. one or more
other motes of the network may assign the status to a mote), and/or by a
device external to the network. For example, the reset process may be
designed to include a self-test by each mote. If mote 103 detects as a
result of the self-test that a sensor is not working properly, it may
cease sensor measurements and may not respond to communications from
other motes.

[0055]One manner of implementing reset may involve retaining one or more
first types of state information on a mote-by-mote basis, and removing
one or more second types of state information on a mote-by-mote basis. In
other words, reset may involve setting subsets of motes within the
network to different operational states, to effect an overall network
reset condition. For example, in a mote network, some motes 102 may sense
temperature, some motes 103, 104 may sense light, etc. A reset might be
designed to capture then reinitiate data logging for one type of sensor.
Thus a "temperature reset" might only affect mote 102.

[0056]In other situations, reset may involve causing all functional motes
of the mote network to return to a same state, including but not limited
to causing one or more motes to enter into an energy saving state. In the
motes 102-104 in a forest example, all sensor readings from all motes may
be provided in response to the reset signal. Reset might also include a
mote 102 identifying if it is in a low power state, and, if so, limiting
communications with other motes by say, sending messages only 1/10 as
often (communication is often more energy intensive than either sensing
or processing.).

[0057]When performing a reset, the mote network may apply state
information stored by the one or more motes of the mote network. In other
words, the reset state information may come from within and may involve
one or more motes obtaining reset state information from one or more
other motes. In other situations, each mote will apply its owned stored
reset state information. In still other situations, the reset state
information may come from a source external to the network.

[0058]To provide a form of feedback, one or more motes of the network may
signal the success or failure of applying the signal to reset. This may
provide useful information about which motes of the network may be relied
upon to have achieved the reset condition.

[0059]Reset Synchronization

[0060]Prior to or as an alternative to providing a signal to reset, the
mote network may be signaled with information about a common time at
which to perform a reset. Motes of the network may then synchronously
perform a reset at the indicated common time. To help ensure that the
motes are synchronized to reset at a common time, the mote network may be
provided with a synchronization signal prior to a reset signal. FIG. 2
describes an embodiment of this process.

[0061]The common time signal and/or the synchronization signal may be
provided by the mote network itself (e.g. one or more motes of the
network may provide the signal), or may be provided by a source external
to the mote network.

[0062]Restore Points

[0063]The mote network may create a network restore point as a result of
receiving the signal to reset. The network restore point may preserve
state information of the network prior to applying the reset. Preserving
state in this fashion may enable the network to later be restored to the
state in existence prior to the reset. For example, each mote 102-104 may
preserve as part of a restore point knowledge of its current nearest
neighbors.

[0064]One or more motes of the mote network may provide distributed
storage for information of the network restore point. In other words, the
restore point information may be distributed throughout the network. In
other embodiments the network restore point information may be stored
external to the mote network.

[0065]Reset Conditions

[0066]In some situations, the mote network may be signaled to reset when
data collected from the mote network indicates the presence of one or
more environmental factors associated with a reset condition. For
example, the mote network may be signaled to reset as a result of
completion of a task by the mote network, and/or as a result of damage to
the mote network, and/or as a result of at least one of addition,
removal, failure, or reconfiguration of one or more motes of the mote
network. For example, motes 102-104 may be set up to sense and
communicate data for a given period of time, say 24 hours, and may reset
on task completion. As a second example, a mote network 102-104 in a room
may experience water damage as a result of a false fire alarm, damaging
mote 103, and triggering a network reset to reconfigure communications
and sensing responsibilities. As a third example, motes may be blown into
a pipe to join the current motes 102-104 therein; all motes in the
expanded mote network may then reset to configure communications and
sensing responsibilities.

[0067]Resetting a Mote Network

[0068]FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of a process of
resetting a mote network.

[0069]At 202 a synchronization signal is communicated by a controller to a
mote network. Each mote 1, 2, and 3 of the network receives the synch
signal and sets its clock accordingly. The three motes (there may of
course be a different number in practice) may then operate with
approximately synchronized clocks.

[0070]At 204 the controller sends a signal to the motes indicating that
reset should occur at a time T4. The motes are operating with
approximately synchronized clocks, so that at time T4 the three motes
each perform a self-reset at approximately the same time. The combined
effect of the self-resets is a systemic reset of the mote network.

[0071]Prior to performing the self-reset, mote 1 at 206 communicates
stored data to the controller. The stored data is thus preserved from any
memory purge that accompanies the self-reset.

[0072]Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the
art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems in the
fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering and/or
business practices to integrate such implemented devices and/or processes
and/or systems into more comprehensive devices and/or processes and/or
systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes
and/or systems described herein can be integrated into comprehensive
devices and/or processes and/or systems via a reasonable amount of
experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that
examples of such comprehensive devices and/or processes and/or systems
might include--as appropriate to context and application--all or part of
devices and/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g.,
an airplane, rocket, hovercraft, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground
conveyance (e.g., a car, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel
carrier, etc.), (c) a building (e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.),
(d) an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer,
etc.), (e) a communications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone
system, a Voice over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g., an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable, Quest,
Southwestern Bell, etc.); or (g) a wired/wireless services entity such as
Sprint, Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.

[0073]While particular aspects of the present subject matter described
herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter
described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended
claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and
modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject
matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the
invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by
those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are
generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be
interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should
be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of
an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be
explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no
such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the
following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases
"at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However,
the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an"
limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation
to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one"
and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should
typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the
same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim
recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced
claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will
recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at
least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two
or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B,
and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B,
or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase
presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description,
claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the
possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both
terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the
possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."